WASHINGTON — Sen. Ted Cruz said Thursday that he still supports federal judge nominee Jeff Mateer, a top lawyer for the state of Texas, despite revelations that Mateer has described transgender children as part of "Satan's plan" and warned that same-sex marriage would lead to polygamy and bestiality.

Sen. John Cornyn said he was surprised to learn of those remarks, but hasn't decided whether to withdraw his support.

The senators jointly recommended Mateer to President Donald Trump for a lifetime spot on the federal bench.

The vice chairman of the panel of lawyers that screens nominees for the senators said last week that Mateer didn't disclose those statements. Cornyn confirmed that.

"It's fair to say I was surprised about that," Cornyn told Texas reporters on a weekly call, adding that he plans to reserve judgment on Mateer pending a review with his staff.

Cruz said the statements don't change his support for Mateer, a longtime conservative legal advocate who serves as the deputy to state Attorney General Ken Paxton.

"His record as a lawyer and public servant demonstrates a fidelity to law and a commitment to protecting the Constitution and the Bill of Rights," Cruz said in a brief interview at the Senate.

Trump nominated Mateer on Sept. 7.

Both Texas senators sit on the Judiciary Committee. Both, according to a committee aide, returned a "blue slip" — the traditional method by which a home state senator gives permission for a nomination to proceed — before Mateer's controversial comments surfaced last week.

Cornyn said there should be no "religious test" for judges, but said they should "be people who can administer equal justice under law."

"Because the information was not previously disclosed, we were not able to have that conversation," said Cornyn, himself a former Texas Supreme Court justice. "I've got some work to do until I can make that final conclusion."

Legal scholars have called it highly unusual to pick a judge who has made such inflammatory remarks.

Cornyn and Cruz use a 35-member panel of lawyers to screen applicants for judicial nominations. The panel includes a former state Supreme Court justice and other leading Texas attorneys, including Kelly Shackelford, head of First Liberty Institute — a conservative law firm focused on protecting public displays of religion.

Mateer was a top lawyer at the firm before moving to the attorney general's office.

Trump picked him for a vacancy in Sherman, in the Eastern District of Texas.

CNN first reported his 2015 remarks on transgender children, and other remarks that year bemoaning state-level bans on conversion therapy — controversial treatment intended to turn gay people straight.

The Pan American Health Organization has deemed such therapy "a serious threat to the health" of those treated.

Democrats and gay rights advocacy groups have angrily denounced the nomination since the comments came to light.

California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the senior Democrat on the Judiciary panel, indicated that Democrats could hammer Mateer in a confirmation hearing, which has not yet been scheduled.

"There's no question these views cast serious doubt on his ability to fairly enforce federal law and treat people impartially," she said.

Mateer was among five picks named by Trump on Sept. 7 for vacant federal trial court posts in Texas, and one of two who had worked at First Liberty. Matthew Kacsmaryk, the group's current deputy general counsel, was nominated for an Amarillo bench, in the Northern District of Texas.